Here's one that I did.

I don't own it anymore, but I rescued it from a pawn shop (with case and all of the other case goodies that I didn't previously have) for $250. Since it was my #3, I decided to do some electronics modification. I added in coil taps and varitone switches from HAS sound for each pickup. In case you want to try it out for yourself, here's the basic schematic that I used.



Because I was essentially adding two more pots to the control cavity, I needed more room, so I routed the control cavity a bit larger up in the direction of the bridge pickup under the pickguard.




Now, since this was my first major wiring job, it took me a few tries to get everything hooked up just right, but when I did, it gave me more tones than I could ever hope to need or use.

Here's a shot of the control layout.



And a full body shot.



After doing all of that work, I realized that I still preferred the sound of my bone stock T-40, so in the midst of downsizing my collection, i sold it off, but it was an interesting project and it gave me more experience with routing and wiring than I had ever done before.

WOW. Look at all those knobs! It's really strange to see on a T-40.

Looks cool, though!

Hey, you did a really neat job of documenting that, thanks! It seems many people who do mods on their T-40s have second thoughts - which is why I've now decided against putting a Dark Star in mine, even though I know they're great.

Aladaube wrote:

Hey, you did a really neat job of documenting that, thanks! It seems many people who do mods on their T-40s have second thoughts - which is why I've now decided against putting a Dark Star in mine, even though I know they're great.

I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to like the end results or not before I did it, which is exactly why I didn't do it on one of my babies. Originally, I had thought about putting in another T-40 in the middle position along with the other mods, but I downscaled my plans when I realized how much more routing that would take.

Honestly, after doing the mods, I can comfortably say that there is nothing about the T-40 that can be improved upon; it's pretty much perfect as is. Funny that I say this when I have plans in the back of my mind to put together a custom T-40/P bass hybrid as soon as I get another T-40 pickup.

However, I have heard quite a few people give rave reviews of the Dark Star mod. I wouldn't try it on either of mine, but I'd be curious to try one that was already done.

Great Post! Too bad you did'nt keep it!

Wow...that's intense! Impressive workmanship as well.

I'm curious, though...why add switches for the coil tap instead of using push-pull pots?

millahh wrote:

Wow...that's intense! Impressive workmanship as well.

I'm curious, though...why add switches for the coil tap instead of using push-pull pots?

The reason for the coil taps was so that I could get the single coil sound with the tone controls rolled down to 0 and the humbucker sound at 10. The single coils with the tone at 0 would've sounded great with tapewounds, but it wasn't meant to be.

Very nice work dude, impressive.

I have a Dark Star modded T-45 that is AWESOME. Not to say that the stock pickup wasn't good, I just was after a more vintage tone with that particular bass. I have Pyramid flats on it and it nails the McCartney sound. Very much like his Sgt Pepper tone. The pickup itself cost me more than I paid for the bass but I think it was worth it...for me.

I wouldn't DS a T-40. The one I just bought sounds fantastic with the stock toasters. Not to mention that DSing a T-40 would cost you $400 just for the pickups.

Scottpro1969 wrote:

Very nice work dude, impressive.

I have a Dark Star modded T-45 that is AWESOME. Not to say that the stock pickup wasn't good, I just was after a more vintage tone with that particular bass. I have Pyramid flats on it and it nails the McCartney sound. Very much like his Sgt Pepper tone. The pickup itself cost me more than I paid for the bass but I think it was worth it...for me.

I wouldn't DS a T-40. The one I just bought sounds fantastic with the stock toasters. Not to mention that DSing a T-40 would cost you $400 just for the pickups.

Exactly. That's not to say that it wouldn't sound good, but it doesn't make any sense to me to spend more than the cost of the bass to put new pickups in a bass that you're already happy with the sound of. If I wanted to have a dual DS'ed bass, I'd just get a custom built, or get a Lakland Decade.

I'd love to try a Lakland, heard they're great basses.

Over on the Rickenbacker forum one guy there bought a 4004, which costs about $1500+ stock new....modded with dual Dark Stars. A Rick has a tone all it's own. I'd never mod mine.

i love that ninety knobs & switches-yet-still-looks-clean look. that's a great modification, nice worksmanship & good job of documenting it. shoulda put a chip in it so's it could be tracked down

i love that ninety knobs & switches-yet-still-looks-clean look. that's a great modification, nice worksmanship & good job of documenting it. shoulda put a chip in it so's it could be tracked down

jtre wrote:

i love that ninety knobs & switches-yet-still-looks-clean look. that's a great modification, nice worksmanship & good job of documenting it. shoulda put a chip in it so's it could be tracked down

I wasn't really worried about it that much, and it's out of my hands now, so I don't have to worry about it.

Funny thing, I own this bass now and just posted about it over in the main forum. Small world, huh?

OutOfTheBand wrote:

Funny thing, I own this bass now and just posted about it over in the main forum. Small world, huh?

Small world indeed.